Closure structure



April 23, 1929. G. A. PROCT O R CLOSURE STRUCTURE Filed April is. 1926"64' he 4 66' E? D5 A6 I JNVENTOR,

a8 By Q6 M v ATTORNEY.

Patented Apr. 23, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE A. IPROCTOR, 0F BELMONT, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO WILLIAM A.GOR- DON, JR., OF SHELTON, CONNECTICUT.

CLOSURE STRUCTURE.

Application filed April 19,

My invention relates to closure structure for a container, collapsibletube, or the llkQ within which is stored and from which is dispensed adesired material, either liquid, semlsolid or solid, as tooth paste,soap paste, shaving crea1n,cold cream, or the like.

In accordance with my invention, the discharge nozzle or orifice of asuitable container is automatically closed or sealed by a member which,upon increase of pressure within the container, is displaced or movedfrom its normal position for opening a path through said nozzle ororifice.

Further in accordance with my invention, in the outlet of a containernozzle or orifice there is positioned a suitable member forming a seatwith which a diaphragm normally engages for closing or sealing thecontainer to'prevent egress of the contents thereof, and moreparticularly, the diaphragm aforesaid comprises a partially flexed orunbalanced resilient member.

My invention resides in closure structure and features of constructionof the character hereinafter described'and claimed.

For an illustration of some of the various forms my invention may take,reference is to be had to the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of a container and cap structureconstructed in ac cordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the structure shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional View of a tube showing the closurestructure of Fig. 1 formed integrally with the container.

Fig. t is a vertical sectional View of a modified form of cap structure.

Fig. 5 is, a vertical sectional view of another modified form of capstructure.

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view showing a modified form of seatingmember.

Referring to Fig. 1, there is illustrated a container structure orcollapsible tube C herein shown as comprising the tapered end portion a,terminating in an exteriorly threaded neck, nozzle or orifice b whichmay be provided with the inwardly directed flanged section 0.

For closing the end of tube C, there is utilized cap structure Acomprising the mem- 1926. Serial No. 102,832.

ber or sleeve (Z threaded onto nozzle Z), a platelike section 6 bridgingthe open end of said nozzle, and a circumferential wall section 7.Rising from section 6 substantially centrally thereof is thesemi-spherical seating member g. In the example shown, member 9 isformed as an integral part of plate section 6, although it shall beunderstood that said member may be formed separately and secured to theplate-section in any suitable manner. Plate section a, outwardly ofmember g, is provided with any suitable number of passages or elongatedslots through which material may pass from within the containerstructure C.

For preventing egress of the contents of tube C, there is utilized aclosure plate or diaphragm D secured to the cap structi ire A in anysuitable manner. In the example shown, diaphragm D comprises acircumferential rib z and terminates in a circumferential flange i,received in a groove formed in the periphery of cap structure A, theouter wall j of said groove clamping the flange 2', against the innergroove wall and folding the diaphragm securely in position on said cap.

In the form of my invention illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, diaphragm D,prior to assembly with cap A, is unbalanced or partially flexed whereby,when fixed in position thereon, the Wall of a centrally disposed openingor perforation 7c in said diaphragm is biased into engagement withmember 9 of plate section 6, as indicated by the full line position ofthe parts in Fig. 1.

Upon compression of tube G, as when grasped or squeezed by the hand ofthe user, pressure beneath the interior surface of diaphragm D isincreased with resultant m0vcment thereof away from the seating member7, for example, intothe position indicated by the broken lines in Fig.1, the diaphragm at this time being in an abnormal position, that is, ithas, due to its unbalanced condition, a decided tendency to returntoward its seat g. The cap structure A being thus opened, the contentsof tube C is expelled through nozzle 6 and openings it until thepressure within the tube-has decreased an amount sufficient to permitautomatic return of diaphragm D into engagement with seat g. Ordinarily,by such an action, but a relatively small amount of the tube contentsare removed.

Obviously, the degree of flexing or unbalancin imparted to the diaphragmshould be sue 1 that, in conjunction with seat 9, it will positivelyprevent leakage of the tube contents. At the same time, the diaphragmshould be so constructed as to yield readily when compression is appliedto the tube in the manner indicated above.

In Fig. 3, I have illustrated cap and dia phragm structure of thecharacter shown in Fig. 1, the sole point of difference residing in thefact that the cap structure is not threaded to a nozzle of the containerstructure C but is formed as an integral part of the tapered end portiona, ofsaid container. Otherwise, the construction is substantially thesame in both examples of my invention and the contents of container C,may be expelled in the san'ie'manner as described above with respect tocontainer C of Fig. 1.

Referring to Fig. 4, the-re is illustrated a modifiedform of myinvention comprising a collapsible tube C having a tapered end portiona, terminating in the exteriorly threaded nozzle b provided with theinwardly directed flanged section 0 preferably extending nearer to thecenter of nozzle 2), than does the flange 0 toward the center of nozzle6, Fig. 1.

The cap structure A comprises the-sleeve (Z threaded onto nozzle 6 aplate-like section a, and the feeding member (7 Section 6 outwardly ofmember 9., is provided with a plurality of slots or passages 1 2,preferably circumferentially arranged and all overlying the nozzleflange 0 Suitably secured to the ledge or wall portion 2', of cap A isthe closure member or diaphragm I) having a centrally disposed openingor recess receiving seat 9 and preferably provided with one or morecircumferential ribs or corrugations 7' Diaphragm D differs from thediaphragm D of Fig. 1 in that it is not flexed or unbalanced prior toassembly with cap structure A To effect withdrawal of material fromcontainer structure 0,, it is first necessary that cap A, be slightlyunscrewed to raise plate section 6 from engagement with flange 0 therebyopening circuitous paths for the tube contents through the passages 7L2.'lhereafter, compression of tube C increases the pressure on theinterior face of diaphragm D. and, due primarily to the corrugations j.the central portion of said diaphragm bends or bows outwardly from seat9 permitting escape of the tube contents. Upon substantial equalizationof pressure on the inner and outer diaphragm faces, it will return tothe position indicated in Fig. 4. to prevent further passage of materialfrom within the tube. The form of my invention described in Fig. 4possesses marked advantages in that.

with the cap A entirely threaded onto nozzle b accidental Withdrawal ofthe tube contents cannot be efiected, thereby rendering the deviceparticularly desirable for purposes of shipment or when traveling.However, by the simple operation described above, the de vice may berendered entirely'automatic in operation and may be maintained in thiscondition as long as desired.

From the foregoing, it will be observed that the diaphragms of Figs. 1and 4 differ 111 at least one important respect. Due to the fact thatdiaphragm D is partially flexed, it will inherently assume a curvedcontour as indicated by the full lines in F1"; 1, any substantialincrease of pressure within the container tending to cause saiddiaphragm to assume a plane position, for example, as indicated by thebroken lines in Fig. 1. However, diaphragm D of Fig. 1, which has notbeen previously flexed or unbalanced, will assume a substantially planeposition while sealing. or closing the container C and, there fore, uponincrease of pressure therewithin, said diaphragm will necessarily moveinto a bowed position to permit egress of the container contents.

In Fig. 5, I have illustrated a container structure C, comprising atapered portion a an orifice or nozzle b and a flanged portion 0generally the same as the corresponding structure of Fig. 1. Secured tocontainer C is the cap A, comprising the two sections or members D and Ethe former comprising a sleeve threaded onto nozzle 6 said sleeve beingprovided with perforations or passages d, and the horizontal portion efrom which rises the core-shaped section f Member E comprises a sleevethreaded 'to the sleeve of member D from which rises the corrugated wall9 terminating in the substantially plane diaph 'agm h having an openingreceiving core f Upon initial compression of tube 0,, the contentsthereof pass through the openings (Z until the space interiorly of wall9 and diaph 'agm 71. has been filled. 'lhercafter, upon compression ofcontaima' C diaphragm 71. primarily due to the corrugated wall portion gwill rise and permit escape of material from within the tube through thepassage thus opened. 'lhereafter, the dia phragm automatically returnsto the position indicated in 5 to close the tube.

Ordinarily it is desirable that the seating members 9 and 1 beconstructed of metal. It shall be understood, however, that othernon-metallic materials may be utilized as a phenol condensation product,hard rubber, or the like. As an example of such modified construction, Ihave illustrated in Fig. (i a closure cap A of any suitable type, asthose illustrated in Figs. 1%, which has a perforated plate 6corresponding with either plate 0 or 6 Suitably secured in a centrallydisposed perfo 'ation in plate a, is a seating member or button 9comprising a spherical surface of hard rubber for coaction with aclosure plate or diaphragm of any suitable type.

The various diaphragms D, D ma y be constructed of any suitablematerial, either mctallic or non-metallic. However, with the type. ofconstruction illustrated in Figs. 13, it is particularly desirable toutilize resilient metal which may be readily set so as to thereafterinherently possess the quality of snapping on to its seating member toclose the discharge orifice from the tube.

Although I have illustrated only the cap structure of Fig. 3 as formedintegrally with the tube, it shall be understood that any other form ofcap structure constructed in accordance with my invention may be eitherdetachably or integrally formed with their associated containers, asfound desirable.

In the construction illustrated in Fig. 1,

, it will. be observed that cap'structure A immediately below member andperforations- /t is provided with a recess terminating in a flanged wallwithin which may be placed a disk of suitable'material having thefunction of positively sealing or closing container Ci. Such a featureis important, for example, when the container is shipped. Obviously, theultimate purchaser may readily unscrew cap A, remove the disk, and uponreplacement of the cap, the device is in condition for automaticoperation.

The type of diaphragm illustrated in Fig. l is particularly eliectivedue to the fact that only a decreasing pressure is required to move thesame from the full line to the broken line position. This is truedespite the fact that the inherent tension thereof due to the flexing orunbalancing operation is sullicient to maintain it in positiveengagement with its seat.-

. Closure structure constructed in accordance with my inventionconstitutes a measuring device in etl'ect, for the amount of materialexpelled at any one operation is roughly proportional to the size of thediaphragm aperture receiving the coacting seat, as the members g, 9,, f,and g Obviously, the size of the diaphragm apertures may be chosen asdesired.

It shall be understood that't-he sealing arrangement comprising theflange 0 Fig. i, for preventing undesired removal of tlltl ltlbucontents maybe readily utilized in connection with a cap structure ofthe character illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2.

What I claim is:

1. The combination with a container com- .prising collapsible wallstructure and having a discharge end of a valve element, and anunbalanced resilient diaphragm, attached and disposed exteriorly of saidcontainer and having an orifice, biased into engagement with the valveelement under the influence of energy stored in said diaphragm.

2. The combination with a container comprising collapsible Wallstructure and having a discharge passage, of a valve element interposedin the path of the container contents emerging through said passage, anda diaphragm biased into engagement with the valve element under theinfluence of energy stored in said diaphragm.

3. A collapsible container having a dischar e nozzle, a plate bridgingsaid nozzle and iaving a passage, :1 seat on said plate,

interposed in the path through said nozzle, an unbalanced resilientdiaphragm having a substantially centrally disposed opening in whichsaid seat is received, and means for restraining movement of thediaphragm periphery only.

4:- A collapsible container having adischarge passage, a valve elementlocated in said passage, and an exteriorly disposed spring membercarried by the tube and having an orifice which normally seats on saidvalve element.

GEORGE A. rnooron.

